The Jeolla Province special episode of the popular variety show featuring singer U-Know Yunho from Gwangju and comedian Kwak Beom from Jeonju delivered plenty of laughs and captured viewers’ attention.
The episode, part of the “Country Folks’ Golden Age 2” series, achieved impressive ratings. Household viewership in the metropolitan area reached 3.8%, with peak moments hitting 5%. Among the key demographic of viewers aged 20-54, the show scored 2.5%, ranking first among all Saturday variety programs in that time slot.
Dialect Lessons and Laughter
The two Jeolla natives taught regional dialect to fellow cast members. Yunho displayed his signature passionate teaching style, earning him the nickname “lesson master” as he demonstrated how to properly use Jeolla-style exclamations. Kwak Beom explained the unique characteristics of Jeonbuk dialect and showed how to incorporate specific expressions throughout sentences. The cast struggled to mimic the unfamiliar accent, resulting in continuous bursts of laughter.
During the segment, a special connection between Kwak Beom and Heo Kyung-hwan was revealed. Kwak shared that when he was an aspiring comedian, Heo was his first mentor. He playfully exposed how Heo used to drive an imported luxury car back then. Heo defended himself, claiming it was meant to inspire hope and dreams in younger comedians, creating another comedic moment.
The “Money War” Game
The highlight segment was dubbed “The Battle of Bills.” Yunho emphasized the loyalty culture among Jeolla people, where everyone competes to pay the bill. The host suggested an envelope game based on this tradition—each person would put money in an envelope, and the last person would cover the total cost. However, unexpected twists followed.
When Kwak Beom, chosen as the final payer, opened the envelope, he was shocked to find random objects and notes instead of proper cash contributions. His bewildered reaction added to the comedy.
Fermented Skate Challenge
The cast then moved to a traditional southern restaurant. To determine who would pay, they held a fermented skate eating challenge. Heo Kyung-hwan and Joo Woo-jae, encountering the pungent delicacy for the first time, showed visible nervousness that entertained viewers. Kwak Beom continuously teased his former mentor Heo, creating a humorous role reversal between teacher and student. Heo’s exaggerated reactions to the strong smell turned the scene into pure comedy gold.
The Final Envelope Surprise
At the end, the loyalty envelope appeared once more. However, while the host was collecting it, other members quietly left. When he realized what happened and chased them to the cashier, his expression showed pure frustration. Opening the envelope revealed more miscellaneous items than actual money. While Heo Kyung-hwan and Yunho stepped up to cover the real cost, other members’ surprising actions created unexpected twists that built anticipation for the next episode.
The next episode will feature new guests, bringing fresh comedy to viewers. The show airs every Saturday evening.